Surface-modified fluoropolymer membrane
AssigneeW. L. Gore & Associates, Inc.
InventorsBradley Marshall McClary, Tarun Poddar
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A method for use in the manufacture of a filtration article includes providing a porous, fluoropolymer membrane, and applying a force to at least a portion of a first side surface of the membrane to modify the first side surface. The applied force may have a non-normal directional component relative to the first side surface. The surface modification may increase the density of the modified surface and/or reduce the porosity of the modified surface. Particle retention capabilities are thereby enhanced across the modified surface while maintaining permeability across the volume of the membrane.
Claims16
A method for modifying a filtration article, comprising:
- providing a porous, fluoropolymer membrane;
- and,
- contacting a first side surface of said fluoropolymer membrane with a contact surface of a surface modification device to mechanically modify the first side surface;
- wherein said contact surface comprises at least one member selected from wovens, non-wovens, nets and knits;
- and
- wherein the contact surface applies a force having a non-normal directional component to at least a portion of the first side surface of said fluoropolymer membrane.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.